Locking license plate holder



Aug. 21, 1951 J M Y LOCKING LICENSE PLATE HOLDER Filed- March 1'7, 1950 cfasep Meyer Q 4Q Patented Aug. 21, 1951 UNE'EEQ STATES PATENT @E'FHCE LOCKING LICENSE PLATE HOLDER Joseph Meyer, Rugby, N. Dak.

Application March 17, 1950, Serial No. 150,158

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in mountings for automobile license plates.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a combination fastening means and lock, which will not only permit prompt application or removal of a license plate with respect to its holder, but which will also serve as a lock to prevent unauthorized removal of the plate.

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of the as selnbled structure showing the lock partly in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an exploded view showing the parts of the fastening means, lock and holder in separated relation.

Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that reference character A denotes a conventional license plate and reference character B denotes a conventional holder for the plate, this holder consisting of an upright C and a horizontal plate carrying arm D, this arm D having longitudinal slots E, F adjacent the end portions thereof, which slots usually receive the usual fastening means, such as bolts, for holding the plate in position.

The present invention consists of an elongated rod 5 for horizontal disposition when in use, this rod being provided with a T-detent 6 terminating in a vertically disposed pin l. This T-shaped detent is located adjacent one end of the rod 5 while the other end is provided with a U-shaped extension 8 one leg of which has a notch 8 into which the keeper iii of a lock mechanism generally referred to by numeral I l is engageable.

The lock structure H has a T-formation l2 projecting from its back side and including a vertically disposed pin it. This lock is of generally conventional design with the exception of the formation [2 and has a suitable key [4 for operating the keeper l0.

Spiral springs i5, is are provided on the T- formation [2 and T-shaped detent 6 and impinned at one end against the license plate A, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and at their opposite ends against the look I l and the rod 5 respectively, this obviously to prevent any rattling when the vehicle is in motion.

It can be seen that to asemble the structure as above described, the rod 5 is disposed in a vertical position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, so that the vertical pin 1 will be horizon- 2 tally disposed and can be inserted through the slot l.

The pin [3 of the T-formation Iii on the lock ii is now inserted through the slot E and the lock turned so that the pin it will be transversed to the slot E. This disposition of the pin, [3, l is obviously made through the usual slots of the license plate A. The rod 5 is now swung to a horizontal position and the rod 5 and lock l I brought together so that the leg members of the U-shaped extension 8 will enter the openings of the look i I and to the end that the keeper 10 will enter the notch 8, thus connecting these parts firmer together and not permitting separation without the use of a key it. The springs l5, it will of course prevent rattling and hold the parts firmly and positively together.

Obviously the fastening means can be just as easily removed to permit displacement of the plate.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the claimed as new is:

A locking device comprising an elongated rod provided with a laterally disposed T formation adjacent one end, said T formation having a head extending at right angles to the rod, a lock including a case in interlocked condition with the other end of said rod, and a T formation affixed to said case and extending laterally in the same direction as the T formation carried by the rod and having a head extending in parallel spaced relation to the head of the T formation carried by said rod.

invention what is JOSEPH MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,338,512 Lundin Apr. 27, 1920 1,383,978 Brewster July 5, 1921 1,540,735 Kroff June 2, 1925 1,612,420 Davis Dec. 28, 1926 1,665,303 Hunter Apr. 10, 1928 1,668,962 Harmon May 8, 1928 2,050,464 Robinson Aug. 11, 1936 2,141,866 Hoffman Dec. 27, 1938 2,328,339 Heath Aug. 31, 1943 

